Foldable brush.



E. O. SUNDEEN.

FOLDABLE BRUSH. APPLICATION FILED sEPLzIs, |916.

1,231,093. Ptenmd June 26, 1917.

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ERICK O. SUNDEEN, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO J'. HENRY BRAZEAU, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

FOLDABLE BRUSH.

Specification bf Letters Patent.

Patented June 26, 191 7.

Application filed September 26, 1916. Serial No. 122,269.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, ERICE O. SUNDEEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Foldable Brush, of which the following is a specification. f

This invention has reference to foldable brushes, and its object is to provide a brush having b ristles which may be fmoved into position for use or folded in a manner to withdraw thebristles into the-body of-the brush whereby the bristles are protected from injury or contamination, and the brush is especially( adapted for tourists use or for packing into small compass for various purposes.

In accordance with the'present invention there is provided a suitable casing which may have a cover applied to it to close it in when not in use, and which is to be removed from the casing when the brush is to be used.l

Housed in the casing is a number of rocker bars, each carrying bristles and together making up the bristle portion `of the brush. The rocker bars have rock arms fast to their ends, while slide and pin connections are provided whereby the rock arms may be simultaneously actuated to correspondingly rock the bars and move the bristles into the casing or project them therefrom. The slide structure is under the control of the handle of the brush, while latch mechanism is provided for holding the brush with the b-ristles projected or releasing the slide and pin devices to the action of actuating springs, `so that the springs may be caused to move the bristles into the cast'lhe invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing fo-rming part of this specification, with the further under standing that while the drawing shows a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to strict conformity with the showing ofthe drawing, but may be changed and modied so long as such changes and modifications come within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the brush casing to one side of the bristle carrying and actuating mechanism and with portions broken away to expose more distant parts.

Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the the casing in section.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l, with the bristles in the withdrawn position and some parts broken away to disclose more distant parts.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. Q, with the handle of the brush moved into the casing to release the bristles to move to the withdrawn position, the handle end of the brush being omitted in the figure.

Fig. 5 is a section on, the line 5 5 of brush with Fig. 1.

Referringto the drawing, there is shown a casing l, which in the particular form of brush illustrated in the drawing, is of rectangular outline, but it will be understood that the invention is not confined to any particular shape of brush. The casing 1 is open at one face and has inclosing side walls 2 of sufficient depth to contain certain brush mechanism to be described. Vithin the casing and spacedv from'both the open and closed faces thereof is a division plate 3 coeXtensive with the casing and provided with edge flanges 4 extended toward the open face of the casing. On that face of the division plate 3 toward the closed face of the casing, there is mounted a frame 5 having its marginal portions directed toward the closed face ofthe casing. The frame 5 is, in the particular showing of the drawing, of elongated rectangular form corresponding to the form of the casing l, while the sides and ends of the frame are in spaced parallel relation with the corresponding portions of the casing. The plate 3 exterior to the frame 5 but in close relation to the long sides ofthe frame 5 has slots 6 therethrough of suitable length for a purpose to be described. Projecting from opposite sides of the frame 5 are pins 7 to each of which is secured one end of a spring 8, the other end of the spring' being made fast to a stud 9 on the plate 3, the tendency of the springs 8, there being one on each side of the frame, is to move the frame toward one end of the casing 1. The tendency of the springs 8 to move the frame 5 toward one end of the casing is opposed by latch members l0, each connected to the plate 3 by a pivot 'pin l1 and provided with arms'lQ, 13 and 14, respectively. These latches are situated within the frame 5, near one end thereof.

Onv the inner walls of the side members of the frame 5 are keepers 15, so positioned as to engage the legs 12 of the latches 10. lThe arms 1a .are connected together by a spring 16 acting upon the two latches in a manner to move the legs 12 toward the inner walls of the long sides of the frame 5. The construction of each latch is such that a force directed against the leg 13 in a manner to move it toward the spring 16 causes the latch to rock so as to move the leg 12 out of the path of the keeper 15. When the two latches 10 are simultaneously moved by a force directed against the legs 13 in the manner described, both latches are similarly rocked to carry the legs 12 out of'the path of the keepers 15, whereupon the frame 5 previously held by the latches is released to the action of the springs S and the frame 5 is moved toward the corresponding end of the casing 1.

Lodged within and movable lengthwise of the frame 5 is a block 17 having a continuation 18 constituting the handle of thevbrush This handle portion extends through the corresponding end of the frame 5, which is the end remote from that at which the latches 10v are located, and the handle extension also projectsthrough a suitable opening 19 in a corresponding end of the casing 1, and is of such length as may be necessary to provide a convenient hand hold.

The head or block 17 is capable of movement longitudinally within the frame 5 and carries pins 20 projecting from the block in a direction opposite to the handle extension- 18. rlhe pins 2O are spaced apart so as to engage the free ends of the arms 13 of the two latches 10 to cause these latches to rock to an extent permitting the escape of the keepers 15. The movement of the head 17 toward the latches 1S is limited by a stop 21 carried by the plate 3. The head 17 when moved toward the right as viewed in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, and as best shown in Fig. 2, engages the corresponding endA of the frame 5 to move the latter against the normal tendency of the springs S until the pins 2() have been `\\itlulrawn from engagement with the arms 13 and the keepers 15 are out of the path of vthe arms 12 whereupon the spring 1G causes the arms 12 to move into the path of the keepers 15. Now when the handle 18 is released, the springs 8 will immediately move the frame 5 until further movement is arrested by the engagement of the keepers 15 with the arms 12 then in their path.

llxtending between the side flanges 4 are rocker rods or shafts 22 terminating at the ends in pivot pins or pintles 23. Each rod 22 carries a series of tufts 24 of bristles, such as are lcustomarily used in brushes and the bristles are so arranged that they provide a brushing surface of appropriate extent.

Near the ends of the rods 22 are rock arms 25 extending through slots 26 longitudinally of the plate 3 and immediately adjacent to butoutside of the long sides of the frame 5. Each arm 25 near the free or upper end considering the brushes in the usual:v brushing position, is provided with an elongated slot 26 traversed by a pin 27 fast to and projecting from the corresponding side member of the frame 5. The arrangement is such that byv reciprocating the frame 5 all the arms 25 are caused toy rock on the axes of the rock rods or members 22 carrying the bristles 2-1 withy Ythe result that the tufts of bristles are projected from the casing 1 or folded upon themselves and within the casing 1 at the open face thereof.

Vhen the frame 5 is in position to be held by the latches 10y against the propelling action of the springs 8, the bristles 24k are in the projected or active position. In the position of the frame 2 where the bristles are projected, the head 17 isy at the end of the frame 5 removed from the latches and the handle 18 is at its fully extended position. When it is desirable to retract the bristles, the user forces the handle 18 and head 17 toward the latch end of the brush until the pins or lingers 20 engage the latches and release the frame 5 so that the springs 8 then move the frame 5 lengthwise of the casing in a direction 'to retract the bristles, so that they are folded upon themselves and are wholly or in most part within the casing 1, as shown in Fig. 3. To lfully protect the bristles from injury or contamination of any kind, the cover 28 is applied to that face of the casing into which the bristles are retracted and such bristles of yieldable nature are forced wholly within the easing, if not already so located.

The brush is designed particularly for tourists use and may be readily stored withyout lia-bility of injury or without liability of injuring anything else by contact therewith. The brush is adapted for the association therewith of various other toilet articles, but it is not deemed necessary to illustrate any such arrangement.

The handle 18 may be of such length that when drawn from thecasing 1 to move the frame 5 to project the bristles, it has a sufiicient extent of projection for the manipulati on of the brush in the usual way, and when pushed into the casing to release the bristles` for movement to the retracted position, the handle is to a large extent housed in the casing and consequently out of the way.

1t will be understood that the brush may be a hair brush, a clothes brush, or Vany other iff) type of `brush to which the structure is ji casing, rock shafts in the casing each carry- L30 ing bristles, a common actuating means for the rock shafts movable in the casing, means imparting to the said common actuating means a normal tendency to move in one direction, latch means for holding the common actuating means against movement under its normal tendency, and means associated with the handle for engaging the latch means to release the common actuating means for movement under its normal tendency.

2. In a foldable brush, a body member, rockable series of bristles mounted therein, actuating means for 'rocking the bristles to and from active position, means impart-v ing to the actuating means a tendency to move in one direction, latch means for holding the actuating means against movement under its normal tendency, and means for operating the latch means to release the ac tuating means for movement under its normal tendency.

3. In a foldable brush, a body member, rockable series of bristles mounted therein, actuating means for rocking 'the bristles to and from active position, means imparting to the actuating means a tendency to move in one direction, latch means for holding the actuating means against movement under its normal tendency, and means for operating the latch means to release the actuating means for movement under its normal tendency, said last-named means constituting the handle of the brush and movable into and out of 'the latter for projection into useful position and retraction for storage.

l. A foldable brush comprising a casing, a longitudinally slotted plate in the casing, a series of rock shafts carried by the plate and each in turn provided with bristles, rock arms on the rock shafts projecting through the slots in the plate, a reciprocable frame movable along the plate in the casing and connected to the rock arms for actuat ing the latter, spring means imparting to the frame a normal tendency to move in one direction, latch means on the plate in position to engage the frame and hold it against movement under its normal tendency, and a handle movable in the casing and projecting therefrom and also movable in the frame to engage the latter, said handle having means for engaging the latch means to re- "lease the frame to movement under its normal tendency.

5. A foldable brush comprising a casing open at one side, a plate within the casing and having laterally spaced longitudinal slots therein, a series of rock shafts journaled to the plate and each provided with tufts of bristles, rock arms on the shafts extending through the slots in 'the plate, a

Copies of this patent may be obtained for reciprocable frame on the plate between the slots and between the arms at opposite ends of the shafts, said frame having pins extending through the arms, and the latter having elongated slots for the reception of the pins, springs connected to the plate and to the frame respectively and tending to urge the frame in a direction to rock the shafts to move the bristles into the casing, latch devices within the casing in position to hold the frame against its normal tendency and a reciprocable handle having a head within the frame and provided with means for engaging the latches to release the frame on movement of the head lengthwise of the frame.

6. A foldable brush comprising a casing open at one side, a plate within the casing and having laterally spaced longitudinal slots therein, a series of rocl; shafts journaled to the plate and each provided with tufts of bristles, rock arms on the shafts extending through the slots in the plate, a reciprocable frame on the plate between the slots and between the arms at opposite ends of the shafts, said frame having pins eX- tending through the arms, and the latter having elongated slots for the reception of the pins, springs connected to the plate and to the frame respectively and tending to urge the frame in a direction to rock the shafts to move the bristles into the casing, latch devices within the casing in position to hold the frame against its normal tendency and a reciprocable handle having a head within the frame and provided with means for engaging the latches to release the frame on movement of the head lengthwise of the frame, said casing having a cover for the portion of the casing through which the bristles project to protect the bristles when retracted into the casing.

7. A foldable brush having a series of rockable shafts carrying bristles, a reciprocable actuating means for the shafts for causing the projection and retraction of the bristles to and from active position, latch means for holding the actuating means in position to project the bristles, and a reciprocable handle in operative relation to the actuating means and to the latch means for moving the actuating means in one direction to proj ect the bristles and to engage the latch means to release 'the actuating means for movement to retract the bristles.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afliXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ERICK O. SUNDEEN.

Witnesses: j

CLYDE JOHNSON, EMIL A. MALMBERG.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

